Illuminating fixture



Dec. l2, 1944. K, P KALLMAN 2,364,854

ILLUMINATING FIXTURE Filed May 2l', 1942 2 Sheets-:Sheet l Snventor (Ittorneg De?. 12, 1944.` K P KALLMAN 2 ,36,8154y ILLUMINATING FIXTURE' i,

Filed May 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 mesne assignments, to Technical Service,` Ini corporated, Detroit, Mich., avcorporation of Michigan Application May 21, 1942, serial No. 443,933 f .6 Claims. l'Cl. 24U- 52) This invention relates to illuminating apparatus and in particular to an upright illuminating fixture which is preferably portable.

One object ofr this invention is to provide an illuminating fixture which lmayy be transported in separate sections and quickly assembled at the y location where it is to be used.

Another object is to provide an illuminating fixture employing fluorescent illuminating tubes supportedupon a tubular standard, which in turn is preferably supported upon a shaft or stake driven into the ground.

Another object is to provide an illuminating fixture having aV source of illumination upon a detachable head, which in turn rests upon a tubular pillar or standard separable from but sustained by a base, the fixture being kept in an upright position by a stake or shaft driven into the ground, means being provided for passing an electric cable up through the base and pillar or standard to the head carrying the illuminating devices.

Another object is to provide an illuminating fixture as set forth in the preceding objects wherein the uorescent tubes which constitute the sources of illumination are mounted upon a conical head andare slightly downwardly inclined in order to distribute the light lmore evenly around the base.

Another object is to provide an illuminating fixture having a hollow head with iiuorescent illuminating tubes mounted thereon and With'a ballast bracket depending from the top member of the head, thereby conveniently and efficiently mounting the ballast and compensator and their associated connections in close proximity to the illuminating tubes.

Another object is to provide an illuminating fixture as set forth in the preceding objects having a structure which is substantially waterproof and weatherproof so that it may be set up outdoors and may operate efficiently regardless of Weather conditions.

In the drawings: y y e Figurel is an elevation of an illuminating xture according to a preferred `embodiment of the invention, with the supporting stake shown extending beneath the ground. v

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the illuminating fixture shown in Figure 1. f

Figure 3 is a horizontal 'section through the illuminating head taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1. *A Y A i :Figure 4 is a horizontalI section through' the pillar or standard just below the top ofthe sup- 55 lamination distributed over a wide area. The ilporting stake, takenalong the line 4-4 in Figure 1. f

Figure 5 is a horizontalsection through the pillar or standard-immediatelyabove the base,

`taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 1.

Figure 6'is a verticalisection through the illuminating head taken lalong the line 6-6 in Figure A1.

Figure 7 is a vertical section through thelower end of the pillar or standard, the base, andthe supporting stake, taken along the line 1-1 in Figure 1. I v

Figure 8 is a vertical section through the illuminating head at right angles to Figure 6 and taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 6. 'i l In general, the illuminating Xture of this invention consists of an illuminating head carrying sources of illumination andl detachably mounted upon a tubular pillar -or standard,which in turn is seated in a socket'in a base. The pillar and illuminating head are mainly held upright by a stake which is driveninto the ground and which passes upward through an aperture in the base to a disk at the top of the stake which engages the inner walls of the pillar or standard. Provision is made for passing a cable'into the base and up Vthrough the pillar or standard past the stake intoI the illuminating head to the ballast and compensator `and thence tothe uorescent tubes mounttubes were precisely vertical; Hitherto the problem of providing an illuminating xture for circuses, Carnivals, fairs, exhibitions and other similar public assemblages has beendiflicult. "Theilluminating fixtures lprovided by the prior art have been lacking in attractiveness or havein-` volved complicated installation procedure or have lacked proper color` or distribution of theyligh't,y

or have been injurious in their effect upon the eyes. The present invention, however, provides an illuminating fixture which makes luse of fluorescent` tubes. which give a powerful yet ysoft. il-

The cone4 serves to support the.

y ing xture as consisting of an illuminating head generally designated I9 and a vsupporting pillar or standard I I, a bas-e I2, and a supporting stake, I3. The stake I3 consists of a shaft (Figure '7l y having a point I4 and a reduced diameter topA I5 carrying a disk I6 which loosely ts` the inner;-

wall II of the pillar or standard II. The disk I6 is provided at its edgewith an-'aperture I8 (Figure 4) through which passes an electric cable,

I9 for conveying electricity to the illuminating head I0. The stake I3 passes through an aperture 20 in the base I2 and is driven deeply into' the ground as far as is necessary, depending uponA the height and weight ofthe particular fixture. The base. I2 is-dome-shaped and is provided with a chamber 2| and a downwardly-extending central cup-shapedl socket portion 22 having a;

recessv 23 adapted to receive the. lower end of the tubular pillar or standard II (Figure '7) 'Ihe base socket 22 is provided with an aperture 24` (Figures 5 and 7), communicatingwith an aperture 25 in the lower end of the pillar or standard I I and serving for thepassageof an electric cable 26 detachably joined tothe cable I9 by the septo protect `the fluorescent tubes 48 from theft or from the elements.

In operation, the illuminating fixture is set up by locating the base I2 atthe desired location and then driving the stake I3 through its aperture 20 deeply into the ground, but with the upperv end of the stake I3 projecting from the ground a suitable distance. An illuminating cable has previously been installed in a shallow trench'and is provided with branches or pigtails 26, to which the individual illuminating' xtures are connected and from which they are energized. Before the base I2 is placed in position, therpigtailA 26 is inserted through its aperture 25. i

The separable connector 21 is then brought together, joining the cable I9 within the pillar or standard I I with. the cableY 26, after which the pillar or standard II is lowered over the disk I6 and stakel I3 into the recess 23 in the socket portion 22 ofsthe base I2, the cable I9 passing f of the pillar or standardvr I I,- with the latter exarable connector 21. The cable 26 is preferably buried in a shallow trench so that passers-by will not trip overit. The basey I2 may also be buried or left exposed'as the user may desire. The illuminating head ID (Figure 6) .is provided with a top 28, a bottom 29,` and a 'cone 30 extending therebetween. The bottom 29 is provided with an upwardly-extending cup-shaped socket portion 3l. having a recess 32adapted to detachably receive Vthe upper end of the pillar or standard II; and is also yprovided wit-han aperture 33 for the ,passage ofA an electric cable. 341,;oinedv tothe electric cable I9 by the separable connector, 35.`

Thebottom 231s in the form of adisk with an annular shoulder 36- to which the cone 3 0;-is secured.l as at 3l'. The top 28; iszsimilarly provided with. an annular flange 3 8 to Which the upper` end of the. cone 3 0 is attached, as at' 3 9.A The cone30 is providedwith peripherally spacedup.- per and lower apertures' 4 0 and 4I f or thepassage of the upper and lower illuminating tube sockets 42 andj43` respectively. 'I haupper end of the cone` 30,i s also provided` with apertures 44, through each of which projectsa fuse and circuit breaker 45, VThe sockets 42 and 43 are secured asat 46 and 4'I respectively to the cone 38. Mountedin and extending between tlnqesoclrf,`

ets 42 and 43Yare uorescent tubes 48 constituting the sources of illumination. The fluorescent tubes 48 are connected as by the wires 49 and` tending upwardlyinto the recess 32 in the socket portion 3| of the bottom 29, the separable connector 35 having beenassembled just, prior to the entry of the pillarv II into the recess 32 so that the cable rI9 vis electrically connectedto the cable 34 within the illuminating head I0.

The illuminating fixture isthen energizedr by passing electric current through the cables 26, I9 and 34,causing the fluorescent tubes .48 to give forth light andillurninate the areas around` the fixture. i When it is desiredv to disassemble'theXture, the reverse procedure is followed. `.Thefhead- I0 is lifted oil' the pillar or: standard vII and the connector 35separated. `The tubular pillar; or standard I I-isr then lifted outof its recess- 2 3 in the base I2 and oif the stake, I 3 andlaid to one side, the separable connector 21. ybeing separated at the proper time. The disk'IG is removed from the toprof the stake, sa; the base l2 is' then lifted up along the stake I3 and removed, andthe stake I3 itself is withdrawn from thel ground, 'Ihe cable 26T and the rnain'cable (not shown)A maythen be removed f romtheir trenches andthe parts suitably packed and stored or transported` Thus it will be seenthat the present-invention provides an illuminating fixture which is-attrachr tivein appearance, gives a powerful lyetsoft light,

5D to the ballast`5l and `compensator 52' (Figure provided with anges 56 along its verticaledg'es. i

Secured as at 5'I to one of the iianges561isl an.` approximately triangular stiffening bracket 58,`

tionally provided .with peripheral flanges 6 I and 62 respectively facing toward' one another and servingY forthe attachment of aconical trans'` parent cover 29a ifit is desirable or necessary,

and which is quickly assembled. anddisassembled in any desired location.` The fixture is substan-` tially waterproof Yand, weatherproof and. can. be set up at any. point merelyby following the procedure described above. The various partsof-the fixture are self-contained and-farequickly setup and taken, down and! are compactlyfstoredfor transported. l v

While a specific Yembodimentv of AtheA invention has been described and illustrated,itwillbaiin--4 derstood that various modifications maybe made within the scope of the appendedfclaimg 'Withcut departing from the `spirit of the inv e n tio r i 1. I n an illuminatingjfixturea hollow tubular standard of uniform cross;sectionranillumina ingY head having ,a socket detachablv receiving one portion of said standardA and a'base havingfa, socket detachably receiving another portionl of throughsaid standard fo-r energizing-saidillumimatingl device, detachable connectors-interposed;

in said conductors adjacent said head and base to permit quick and easy removal and assembly of the iixture parts and a supporting stake within said standard projecting through said base adapted to extend into the ground, said stake being adapted to align the tubular standard with the base Vand prevent separation of said connectors.

2. In an illuminating iixture, a hollow tubular standard, an illuminating head having a socket detachably receiving one portion of said standard, a base having a socket detachablyreceiving another portion of said standard, a uorescent illuminating tube mounted on said head positioned to direct light downwardly in all directions, an electrical conductor passing through said standard for energizing said fluorescent tube, detachable connectors interposed in said conductor at the points of connection of said standard with said base and head to permit easy and quick assembling and dismantling of the' xture parts and a supporting stake within said standard extending through an opening in said base with its upper concealed end in. interlocking engagement with said'standard and its other end adapted to extend into the ground.

3. In an illuminating xture, a hollow tubular Y standard, an Ailluminating head having a socket slidably and detachably receiving one portion of said standard, a base having a socket detachably and slidably receiving another portion of said standard, a :fluorescent illuminating tube mount-l f the base adapted to enter the ground, said stake l having a portion intertting with said standard adjacent said base.

4. In an illuminating iixture, a hollow tubular standard, an illuminating head having an inverted cup-shaped socket detachably receiving the upper end oi said standard, a base having a cupshaped socket to slidably and detachably receive the lower end of said standard, an illuminating device on said head, an electric conductor passing the standard` to retain the connectorsI in assembled relation.

5. 1n an iuummating' fixture, a houow tubular standard of uniform cross section, an illuminating head having a cup-shaped socket detachably receiving the upper end of said standard, abase having a cup-shaped socket ofthe same circular size as the first socket for detachably receiving the lower end Iof said standard, an illuminating device on said head, an electrical conductor pass- Y ing through said standard and terminating `at 1 eachl end thereof, means connecting the conductor for energizing said illuminating device, a detachable connector on the other end of said conductor for connection to a source of current and a Supporting stake partly within said standard and adapted t0 extend through said base into the ground and 'having an interfitting portion on said stake adapted to retain `the standard in the cup-shaped sockets and maintain the electrical connectors in electrical engagement.

6. In an' illuminating fixture, a hollow standard, an illuminating head havingan inverted lcupshaped socket detachably and slidably receiving the upper end of said standard, a base having a cup-shaped socket detachably `and slidably receivingv the lower end of said standard, an illuminating device on said head, an electrical conf ductor passing through said standard for energlzing said illuminating device, detachable electrical connectors interposed in said conductor adjacent the points of connection of said standard with said cup-shaped sockets and a supporting o stake partly within said standard and adapted through said standard for energizing said illumito` extend through said bas'einto the ground whereby said standard will be retained in assembled relation with thehead and'base and said connectors will be prevented from accidental separation, said stake' lhaving a spacer member adjacent the upper end engaging the interior of said standard. v

KASKEL P. KALLMAN. 

